Mogadishu (WDN)- Somalia’s Parliament descended into open disorder on Wednesday after a joint session of the House of the People and the Upper House collapsed amid shouting, physical confrontations, and acts of protest—an episode that starkly underscored the depth of the political crisis surrounding the proposed constitutional amendments.

The session, called to present lawmakers with changes to five contested chapters of the Provisional Federal Constitution, was effectively paralyzed from the outset. Opposition MPs accused the Speaker of attempting to railroad the amendments through Parliament without consultation, transparency, or political consensus, in what they described as a dangerous overreach of parliamentary authority.

Proceedings quickly spiraled out of control as the parliamentary leadership failed to enforce order. The chamber was engulfed in sustained heckling and chaos, with several lawmakers engaging in physical scuffles as security personnel struggled to contain the situation.

In a stark display of defiance, opposition MP Hassan Firinbi tore copies of the proposed constitutional amendments to shreds in front of television cameras, branding the process illegitimate. Firinbi, a leading figure among critics of the amendments, was also seen repeatedly confronting Internal Security Minister, Sen. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail “Fartaag,” further inflaming tensions on the floor.

The collapse of the session marked a significant blow to the constitutional review process and laid bare the fragility of Somalia’s parliamentary institutions. Rather than addressing what’s is stake in Somalia’s political instability, the proceedings exposed widening fractures within the federal leadership and intensified fears that critical national decisions are being pursued through coercion rather than consensus.

The turmoil comes at a time of heightened political sensitivity, with federal member states, opposition leaders, and civil society already warning that unilateral constitutional changes risk destabilizing the country and undermining public trust in state institutions.

The international community is also scaling back its engagement in Somalia’s state-building efforts, citing the deteriorating political climate and the absence of consensus or meaningful progress.

WardheerNews